Chapter 86

Chapter 86

Claire (5)

The story of memories with Ventus Frail that Fresia began to tell.

That was a story too fresh, unexpected for Gracie.

Scoring every food eaten at restaurants or inns heard.

Unexpectedly a sleepyhead so among the party the latest to get up.

When praised for using magic and playing an active role happily talking about what magic she used.

Also interested in ornaments so after subjugating the calamity saying have to show dignity and making the ornament design she made herself with magic and showing to companions etc.

It wasn’t a dramatic adventure story, but experience talks that could never be heard in biographies or books recording the deeds of heroes.

As she listened the inferiority complex and sense of powerlessness that rose because of guilt disappeared at some point and she became more absorbed in Fresia’s story.

And the more she heard the story Gracie had a certain thought.

‘Saintess Fresia, by any chance... d, did you like the ancestor?’

A kind of feeling.

Saying the past story of a companion the way she says Ventus is cute is like that, and the appearance of smiling while recalling memories while talking seemed like a woman talking about a man she held in her heart.

‘Is it okay to ask? No, but if just liking as a companion rather wouldn’t it be a rude question!?’

“Why are you like that, Gracie?”

“Yes!?”

“Seems like there’s some worry again.”

“No! Just something suddenly came to mind! It’s not a worry!”

Waving hands trying to change the subject, but Fresia smiled benevolently and asked.

“What thought is it that you’re like that?”

“Uh, that is...”

Thought it was too late to beat around the bush against Fresia now.

Rather even if beating around it seemed it would be exposed soon so Gracie decided to say right away.

“I, if not real please laugh it off! By any chance... did Saintess Fresia l, like the ancestor? That... not the feeling of companion or something...”

Gracie fidgeting fingers and asking as if watching the mood.

Fresia looked at such Gracie and quietly laughed and answered.

“Huhu, embarrassing. Did it show that much?”

“...!?”

At Fresia’s reaction not hiding at all and rather smiling kindly Gracie was greatly surprised.

‘It was real!? Saintess Fresia the a, ancestor! The ancestor was popular!’

Somehow Gracie’s self-esteem rose.

Even if the ancestor is great it’s not that she is great, but anyway the bloodline is the same so wouldn’t she also be full of popularity? a small hope was planted.

“At that time I also didn’t know my heart. Just when seeing Ventus it was heartwarming and a smile was made so I thought I just liked as a companion.”

Fresia placed a hand on her own chest.

“After subjugating the calamity and returning to the Magic Tower and Holy City respectively it was only exchanging letters... Thinking about it I was really looking forward to the letters Ventus sent. The letter content was mostly about the magic Ventus was developing, but still we continued to regularly exchange contacts.”

Although exchanging letters after a long time, the content of the letters was mostly the research content he was developing.

But Fresia was happy about the act of continuing to exchange letters with Ventus at the time itself.

If other ordinary women saw they would have frowned saying a man who only talks about work without tact.

“I see.”

‘What on earth was the magic he was developing?’

Gracie was more concerned about the content of the letter as a mage rather than romance sensibility.

“Yes. Even now there are the letters exchanged until now in the drawer. Would you like to read later?”

“...! Yes!”

A letter with content about the magic the Heavenly Law mage Ventus was developing early.

It could be said to be a letter a mage would want to see enough for eyes to light up.

At the appearance of Gracie answering with sparkling eyes Fresia overlapped with Ventus Frail talking about past magic.

Gender is different and face is different, but perhaps because thinking same bloodline.

Longing and affection.

And past regret swirled in Fresia’s chest.

“Gracie, what is the thing you regretted the most until now?”

“Yes? Uh. That... when the lich appeared the thing of not being able to do anything is what I regret the most. The Paladin was trying to protect the Saintess, and the Saintess also bravely attacked toward the lich. I... could only tremble behind the Paladin.”

“I see. But since you didn’t sit down and moved your feet to the Holy City like this you have the opportunity to correct the regret. Different from me.”

“Did Saintess Fresia have a regret you couldn’t correct?”

“Yes. Precisely on the day of Ventus’s funeral I realized it.”

“On the day of the ancestor’s funeral...”

Fresia recalled that day and opened her mouth.

“Too sudden and hard to believe news was conveyed as urgent news. The news that Ventus died in a magic accident. I couldn’t believe it. That can’t be. That not anyone else but that Ventus died in a magic accident doesn’t make sense.”

The Heavenly Law mage.

No matter how complex the magic the great mage who deployed in one go in dramatic combat situations and saved the companions’ lives several times.

That was the mage called Ventus Frail that Fresia knew.

“But... only after directly going to the Magic Tower and participating in his funeral did the fact that he really died reach my heart.”

Looking at the coffin without even a corpse Fresia shed tears.

‘Ah, Ventus really died.’

The moment that thought truly entered only then could she shed tears, and at the same time piercing pain.

Painfully the chest, the heart, the mind.

Can no longer see his face.

Can no longer hear his voice.

Can no longer exchange words with him.

That pain made her realize the fact she hadn’t noticed until then.

‘Aaah, I... loved Ventus.’

“Really... a realization too late even if late. Huhu, even though I look like this I listened to many people’s repentance and worries. But to not know my own heart at all until then. Isn’t it funny?”

“A, no. Th, that’s not it. Heuk!”

Even speaking in a soft voice.

No, rather because speaking softly Gracie heard Fresia’s story and was sad.

No matter how late.

The fact that the love of the ancestor Ventus Frail and Saintess Fresia that might have connected didn’t happen because of the unfortunate event of a magic accident was too sad for Gracie.

“Oh my, I’m sorry. Because of me for no reason.”

“No! For telling really... sniff! Thank you.”

“Rather thank you for listening to this old person’s words, Gracie. Originally what I wanted to talk about was another story. I ended up talking a lot.”

Fresia handed a handkerchief to Gracie and brought out the real reason she called her.

“Gracie, do you still remember well about that lich?”

“Yes. I haven’t forgotten a single thing about that day’s matter.”

“Then would you tell? How the incident happened that day without missing a single thing. What Gracie saw and heard.”

Until calling Gracie to the room for 5 days.

Fresia was agonizing.

Looking at the montage of the lich Gracie drew she pondered and thought several times.

Is the identity of that lich really Ventus Frail?

Or is it really just a coincidence?

But when he died it was said not even a handful of corpse remained from the magic accident.

If he didn’t die in a magic accident and became a lich?

Why did he become a lich?

Why after becoming a lich didn’t he come to meet her?

Numerous thoughts and worries made her head complicated.

And after agonizing Fresia decided.

Information is still lacking.

Have to know even a small clue more accurately.

First have to know whether that lich is Ventus Frail.

Therefore Fresia called Gracie into the room.

And Fresia heard the situation that happened that day from Gracie.

Especially focusing on the lich’s words and actions she asked several times trying to grasp whether there are similar points in that lich’s actions and Ventus Frail.

After hearing the story sufficiently, Fresia bowed her head to Gracie and thanked.

“Thank you for telling, Gracie. Did I ask too much?”

“No! You’re trying to know well about the lich right!”

Fresia wanted to calmly think about Gracie’s story heard today.

“Thank you for understanding. Is it okay to show the letters next time? I want to organize thoughts about the lich.”

“Yes! Of course! Then excuse me!”

When Gracie withdrew Fresia opened the drawer with the letters.

‘In the end couldn’t confirm that the lich’s words and actions are Ventus. But if Ventus he would say such words too.’

Fresia unfolded the letter Ventus Frail sent last.

Inside it content about warp magic was written.

“Ventus, did you really suffer a magic accident and are already not in this world? Or still in this world...”

Saintess Fresia’s worry only deepened more and more.

+++

The slime that continued moving in the direction Claire pointed could finally come out of the forest.

And as soon as coming out of the forest Claire who was on the slime’s soft board said.

“It’s fine now. Want to get off.”

‘Yes!’

At Claire’s words the slime immediately stopped and lowered the height of the soft board so Claire could easily get off.

Since seeing the appearance of understanding words several times she wasn’t greatly surprised and Claire came down from the slime.

While coming out of the forest Claire could come safely without even moving a finger.

Precisely before even moving a finger the slime dealt with the monsters and made her ride again and moved.

‘If a slime this smart by any chance...’

Claire looked down at the slime and asked.

“Do you know an elf named Marin?”

‘Marin? Don’t know!’

The slime tilted its body then twisted its body left and right and imitated a person shaking their head.

[Soft Queen]▶You this guy! If safely came out thanks to my kin not even properly thanking and just asking questions! Ungrateful!

▶Already came out so what?

▶Ah lolol who asked for help lolol.

[Just Stick It In and See]▶What, already came out?

Claire didn’t think that Nellin and the slime have no relation at all just because the slime denied once.

Because Claire also had few cases of remembering names one by one of every person met!

In the time when only interested in dealing with monsters there was no interest in surrounding people either so there was a time of not properly remembering names and calling you, you.

Now basically remembering names of people met a lot, but couldn’t even remember names of adventurers who happened to do requests together.

‘Might not know the name.’

Therefore Claire started saying Nellin’s characteristics.

“Marin, really don’t know? Elf. Has light green hair. Has blue eyes. Hair, tied like this.”

Claire gathered her hair that went down to the shoulders with both hands and made a ponytail.

“And very strong. Looking for a smart slime like you. Name is Marin.”

Claire emphasizing the name Marin again and asking.

But.

‘Marin? Don’t know!’

Since the slime knows the name Nellin but doesn’t know an elf named Marin it twisted its body left and right the same.

“Don’t know. It was another slime.”

‘Yes, as expected not the slime Marin is looking for.’

While Claire was regretting.

The lich looking at that scene.

Kkanjuk thought.

‘A strong elf looking for a smart slime. Moreover the name is Marin... Don’t tell me Nellin? Came out of the blue elf forest?’

When Claire and the slime crossed each other only Kkanjuk got the correct answer.